Magnet manipulating pole



April 14, 1964 w. HABER ETAL 3,129,028

MAGNET MANIPULATING POLE Filed Jan. 2, 1962 1N VEN TORS wan m I WILLIAM HABER F 3 BY IRVING L. FREEMAN WCPQA A T TORNE Y5 United States Patent 3,129,028 MAGNET MANIPULATING POLE William Haber, 5812 Donna, Tarzana, Calif., and Irving L. Freeman, 13013 Hartsnok, Van Nuys, Calif. Filed Jan. 2, 1962, Ser. No. 163,840 9 Claims. (Cl. 294-19) This invention relates generally to magnetic devices and more particularly to a novel magnet manipulating pole to facilitate the placement and removal of magnets against surfaces beyond normal arm reach.

There are many instances in which it is desired to place a magnet against a magnetic surface which is out of the normal arm reach. For example, in hanging display items in stores, super markets, and the like, it is desirable to suspend the same from points well above the normal persons head to avoid interference with persons in the store. Further, it is preferable to provide means for supporting such display items which do not require special equipment such as hooks and the like to actually suspend theitems. This latter problem can be solved by employing magnets which may be temporarily secured to magnet attracting surfaces normally existing in the overhead ceiling or fixture portions in a store. There still remains the problem, however, of properly positioning and removing the magnets.

With the foregoing in mind, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a novel manipulating pole for securing a magnet against a magnetic surface which is in a normally out-of-armreach position to the end that the need for step ladders and the like for supporting items is wholly. avoided.

' More particularly, it is an object to provide a manipulating pole-for a magnet which enables both placement and removal of a magnet from a magnetic surface so that magnetically supported items such as displays may be rapidly placed, removed, transferred, or changed without requiring any special equipment other than the pole itself.

Briefly, these and many other objects and advantages of this invention are attained by providing an elongated handlemember terminating in a head. This head includes first and second surfaces. The first surface is arranged to attract a magnet and hold the same in position for inserting against a surface area in a store or other room in which displays are to be suspended. The second surface is also arranged to magnetically attract the magnet for removing the magnet from the particular surface area to which it is afi'ixed. Normally, there will be a given force with which the magnet is attracted to the surface area in the store. With knowledge of this force, the first surface is designed to hold the magnet with a force less than the given force so that the magnet may be transferred from the pole head'to the surface area in the store. The second surface, on the other hand, is arranged to magnetically attract the magnet with a force greater than the given force to the end that it may be employed to remove themagnet from the surface area in the store. Thus, the same pole may be employed for both positioning and removing the magnet as desired.

A better understanding of the invention will be had by now referring to a preferred embodiment thereof as illus trated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the end portion of the manipulating pole of this invention with a magnet held thereon preparatory to placing it against a surface area;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view taken generally in the direction of the arrows 22 of FIGURE 1; and,

FIGURE 3 is a plan view taken in the direction of the arrows 3-3 of FIGURE 1 illustrating the placement of the magnet against a surface area.

Referring first to FIGURE 1, there is shown the upper end portion of a pole or handle 16 supporting a head designated generally by the numeral 11. As shown, the head is secured by a bolt 12 and wing nut 13 on the end of the elongated handle it so that it is capable of arcuate movement with respect to the handle.

The head itself serves to support first and second members 14 and 15 having first and second surfaces facing generally in like directions as shown. These members are separated by a central partition 16 and have their lower ends adjacent flat floor portions 17 and 18, respectively. The floor portion 17 includes an elongated slot 19 defining a fork structure as shown. The head itself is completed by a back plate 20 arranged to support the first and second members 14 and 15, respectively.

A magnet 21 is shown disposed over the forked structure and in contact with the member 14. This magnet includes generally square side plates 22 and 23 sandwiching magnetic material 24 therebetween which may comprise a barium-ferrite ceramic composition. With this arrangement, the periphery of the plates 22 and 23 over the entire perimeter of the square shape constitute magnetic surfaces which will be magnetically attracted to any magnetic material with which they are placed in contact.

The arrangement is such that the first member 14 will hold magnetically the magnet 21 with a force less than the normal force of attraction between the magnet 21 and any surface to which it is to be affixed. On the other hand, the second member 15 is arranged to attract magnetically the magnet 21 with a force greater than the normal holding force between the magnet and any surface to which it is afiixed.

Accordingly, the member 14 may be employed in positioning the magnet against a surface area and the member 15 may be employed in removing or retransferring the magnet from the surface area back to the head.

The magnet 21 includes a hook 25 from which a line 26 may be suspended to connect to various items such as display items to be supported. The slot 1% provides an opening through which the line and hook structure may depend and serves to facilitate retaining the magnet on the platform while lifting the same.

In the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGURE 1, the first member 14 is made of smaller contact surface area than the second member 15. By this arrangement, the force of attraction between the member 14 and magnet 21 may be made less than the force of attraction between the member 15 and the magnet 21. An alternative means for providing this difference in force, however, may be effected by forming the member 14 of magnetic material of less thickness than the magnetic material employed in the member 15. This may be achieved by providing a non-magnetic surface portion such as indicated at 14' in FIGURES 2 and 3 for the member 14. Thus, as best seen in FIGURE 3, the thickness of the magnetic material in the member 14 is shown by the letter d whereas the thickness for the magnetic material in the member 15 is shown at D which is thicker and thus will provide a greater flux path cross section for the magnet itself resulting in a stronger holding force.

The use of the insulated surface 14' also provides a third means for effecting a difierence in the force in that it will' hold the magnet spaced from the actual magnetic material 14 and thus result in a considerably less holding force. Any one or a combination of all of the various means shown may be employed to provide a difference in magnetic holding force between the members 14 and 15 and the magnet 21.

The members 14 and 15 are preferably secured to the back wall 20 by bolts or rivets 27 and 28 loosely passing through bores in the back so that the members may swivel slightly.

The operation of the manipulating pole will be understood from the foregoing description. Initially, the angle of the head 11 may be adjusted with respect to the end of the pole or handle by loosening the wing nut 13 and swinging the head as required. For example, if the magnet 21 is to be secured to a vertical wall surface at a given height, the plane of the holding surface on the member 14 should be generally parallel to the wall surface to which the magnet 21 is to be affixed. The pole 10 on the other hand may be at a slight angle to the vertical for convenience in holding the same. Therefore, it is desirable to be able to adjust the angle of the head 11 with respect to the pole 10. After such adjustment has been effected, the wing nut 13 is tightened.

The magnet 21 may then be positioned over the forked area so that the hooked portion falls through the slot 19 as shown and the line 21 may be suitably connected to various items to be supported by the magnet. The rear end of the magnet 21 is magnetically attracted to the member 14 through the insulative surface 14.

The magnet is raised and its front end portion then placed against any suitable surface area to which the magnet is to be secured. Since the member 14 is designed to hold the magnet with a force less than the given normal force between the magnet 21 and the surface area to which it is secured, such as the surface 29 as shown in FIG- URE 3, the pole and head may be withdrawn from the magnet after it has been placed in contact with such surface. The swiveling mounts 27 and 28 for the members 14 and facilitate effecting full surface contact between the magnet 21 and the surfaces of these members in that the same may swivel slightly in initially engaging the magnet.

When it is desired to remove the magnet, the surface of the second member 15 is brought into contact with the rear surface of the magnet 21 so that the relative position between the head and the magnet will be as indicated by the dotted lines in FIGURE 3. The head may then be withdrawn which will pull the magnet from the surface since the member 15 is of sufiicient thickness to provide a magnetic attracting force on the magnet greater than the normal force holding the magnet against the surface 29. The structure may then be lowered and replaced or transferred to another location.

Because of the square shape of the magnet, all sides thereof constitute attracting surfaces so that the top side may be afiixed to a horizontal ceiling surface. Towards this end, the members 14 and 15 are of a vertical height no greater and preferably less than the side dimension of the magnet so that the upper side of the magnet is free to engage the ceiling surface without interference from the members.

From the foregoing description, it will be evident that the present invention has provided a novel magnet manipulating pole which greatly facilitates setting up of displays or other items in out-of-arm reach locations. While only one particular embodiment of the pole structure has been shown and described, various changes that fall clearly within the scope and spirit of this invention will occur to those skilled in the art. The manipulating pole for magnets is therefore not to be thought of as limited to the exact embodiment set forth merely for illustrative purposes.

What is claimed is:

1. A magnet manipulating pole for securing a magnet against a magnetic surface area and subsequently removing said magnet from said surface area wherein said magnet is normally held against said surface area with a given force, comprising, in combination:

(a) an elongated handle terminating in a head;

(b) a first surface carried by said head and arranged to attract magnetically and hold said magnet with a force less than said given force; and,

(c) a second surface carried by said head and arranged to attract magnetically and hold said magnet with a force greater than said given force, whereby said magnet may be transferred from said head to said surface area when initially held on said head against said first surface, and retransferred from said surface area to said head by attracting said magnet to said second surface.

2. A manipulating pole according to claim 1, in which said first surface has a lesser contact area with said magnet than said second surface.

3. A manipulating pole according to claim 1, in which said first surface constitutes one face of a first member including magnetic material of given thickness, said second surface constituting one face of a second member including magnetic material of thickness greater than said given thickness.

4. A manipulating pole according to claim 1, in which said first surface constitutes one face of a first member including magnetic material and said second surface constitutes one face of a second member including magnetic material, said first member having a layer of non-magnetic material to hold said magnet in spaced relationship to said magnetic material in said first member.

5. A manipulating pole according to claim 1, in which said first surface constitutes one face of a first member including magnetic material and said second surface constitutes one face of a second member including magnetic material, said first and second members being loosely mounted on said head for limited swiveling movement.

6. A manipulating pole according to claim 1, in which said first surface constitutes one face of a first member including magnetic material and said second surface con stitutes one face of a second member including magnetic material, said magnet being square shaped as viewed in side elevation and having all edges magnetized, said members having vertical dimensions no greater than the side dimension of said magnet so that the upper side of said magnet may be transferred to a horizontal ceiling surface without interference from said members.

7. A manipulating pole according to claim 6, in which said head includes a slot portion defining a fork structure for engaging the under side of said magnet; and a support means passing from said magnet through said slot structure for connection to items for supporting the same.

8. A manipulating pole according to claim 7, including pivot means for rotatably mounting said head to the end of said pole for limited arcuate movement.

9. A magnet manipulating means for securing a magnet against an area of magnetically attracted material and subsequently removing said magnet from said area wherein said magnet is normally held against said area with a given force, comprising: a carrying head having a first surface arranged to attract magnetically and hold said magnet with a force less than said given force, and a second surface arranged to attract magnetically and hold said magnet with a force greater than said given force, whereby said magnet may be transferred from said head to said area when initially held on said head against said first surface, and retransferred from said area to said head by attracting said magnet to said second surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,032,363 Clayborne May 1, 1962 

9. A MAGNET MANIPULATING MEANS FOR SECURING A MAGNET AGAINST AN AREA OF MAGNETICALLY ATTACHED MATERIAL AND SUBSEQUENTLY REMOVING SAID MAGNET FROM SAID AREA WHEREIN SAID MAGNET IS NORMALLY HELD AGAINST SAID AREA WITH A GIVEN FORCE, COMPRISING: A CARRYING HEAD HAVING A FIRST SURFACE ARRANGED TO ATTRACT MAGNETICALLY AND HOLD SAID MAGNET WITH A FORCE LESS THAN SAID GIVEN FORCE, AND A SECOND SURFACE ARRANGED TO ATTRACT MAGNETICALLY AND HOLD SAID MAGNET WITH A FORCE GREATER THAN SAID GIVEN FORCE, WHEREBY SAID MAGNET MAY BE TRANSFERRED FROM SAID HEAD TO SAID AREA WHEN INITIALLY HELD ON SAID HEAD AGAINST SAID FIRST SURFACE, AND RETRANSFERRED FROM SAID AREA TO SAID HEAD BY ATTRACTING SAID MAGNET TO SAID SECOND SURFACE. 